‘Snakebite’ comfortably beat Welshman Clayton in Thursday’s final
PETER Wright overcame hometown favourite Jonny Clayton to win night one of the 2022 Premier League darts in Cardiff.
The world number two averaged 113.02 in the final to defeat reigning champion Clayton in front of a sold out crowd at the Motorpoint Arena.
Wright looked unfazed in front of the 4,000 strong Welsh crowd, despite a deafening rendition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau echoing around the arena.
The current world champion finished off in style by checking out 121 to win the match 6-1. He gained five points on the league table and pocketed the £10,000 winner’s prize.
Wright, who earlier this week revealed the Premier League title was his main target in 2022, said: “I’ve got a new feeling when I play now.
“I used to wonder how Phil [Taylor] concentrated for each match but now I’ve got that feeling. I believe I can go on and win every single tournament I play, but I also know I can play better.
“The new format gives you time to get used to the stage, that’s why I think I played so well in the final.
“You also get to experience the amazing crowd up to three times a night, so I love it.”
The Scot averaged over 100 across the night as he brushed aside World Championship runner-up Michael Smith in the quarter final, a month to the day since their Alexandra Palace epic, which Wright won to claim World Championship glory.
He then narrowly beat Gary Anderson in an all-Scottish affair to reach the final.
Despite defeat, Clayton was full of praise for the support he received.
“It is fantastic, when I came out on the first game the atmosphere was phenomenal.
“The support is second to none, it really makes you proud to be Welsh.
“Fair play to Peter [Wright], I couldn’t get going and Peter put me under so much pressure.”
There was disappointment for Caerphilly-born Gerwyn Price who crashed out in the quarter-finals to James Wade.
Sky Sports Darts commentator Wayne Mardle described Price as “not showing enough aggression”.
He added: “He doesn’t look himself, he has no energy, everything about his body image is flat.”
Home favourite Clayton is now second in the early league standings with three points, thanks to his wins over debutant Joe Cullen and James Wade in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively.
Losing semi-finalists Wade and Anderson go away with two points thanks to their respective quarter-final victories against world number-one Gerwyn Price and five-time Premier League champion Michael van Gerwen.
Next Thursday the eight competitors will head to Liverpool for Night Two of the league phase, as Wright renews rivalries with Van Gerwen in the pick of the quarter-final ties.
The night’s opening matches will also see Price v Anderson, Clayton v Smith and Wade v Cullen as the £1 million tournament continues at the M&S Bank Arena.
2022 Cazoo Premier League
Night 1 – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Thursday February 3
Quarter-Finals
Jonny Clayton 6-2 Joe Cullen
James Wade 6-3 Gerwyn Price
Peter Wright 6-3 Michael Smith
Gary Anderson 6-4 Michael van Gerwen
Semi-Finals
Jonny Clayton 6-4 James Wade
Peter Wright 6-5 Gary Anderson
Final
Peter Wright 6-1 Jonny Clayton
